Botswana lodges are the crème de la crème of the world of luxury safari. As the country is made up of private concessions unless you go to the extremely busy Chobe National Park or Moremi Game Reserve, the prices naturally inflate. Botswana has followed a model of high quality, low quantity in their approach to tourism and it is exceptional at just this. Botswana is home to some of the most spoiling experiences on the continent. The private reserves mean that a lodge which would cost you $700 per person per night in say, southern Tanzania, would cost you $1,300 per person per night in the watery and beautiful Okavango Delta… To get fantastic wildlife viewing and a huge diversity in activities, all in the privacy of your own slice of wilderness, you have to pay a premium!
Best value quality safari lodges in Botswana
Prices have inflated a lot in Botswana in recent years, and they just seem to be going up and up. A lodge like Pom Pom, which admittedly is in an exceptional game viewing area, is now $1,150 per person per night. Aside from the exceptional guiding and wildlife, the actual accommodation is fairly rustic. A fantastic option for some people, though we wonder whether Botswana isn’t going a bit over the top in prices across the board...
A fantastic new property has opened in the Kwara concession; Splash Camp which is a part of the Kwando range. It is very nicely presented and offers a bit more luxury for your money in an exceptional wildlife area but still comes in at $1,416 per person per night.
In order to slash the price of being in these private wildernesses though, we would recommend travelling off season in either May or November, to get still exceptional wildlife, but for a lot less. For example, Pom Pom over these months decreases to $826 per person per night, and Splash reduces to $1,040.
The best barefoot luxury safari lodges in Botswana
Barefoot-luxury safari lodges are a pretty special experience. Little Vumbura in particular is an office favourite. Set on a little island surrounded by water and in one of the most enviable parts of the Delta, Little Vumbura is a seriously special experience. The style is understated, yet authentically luxurious and we absolutely love it. It is not cheap though! Even without all the added luxuries like private pools and a more glitzy design, Little Vumbura is priced at $2,830 per person per night.
Going a little more intrepid, but no less luxurious is Duba Explorers. This is a tented camp, and really does capture the spirit of exploration in the wilderness, certainly without compromising on luxury. Duba Explorers is for those who crave authentic experiences, but expect a certain standard of opulence on their adventure. It is not a cheap camping experience at $1,900 per person per night.
The most luxurious safari lodges in Botswana
The most luxurious safari camp in Africa, and probably one of the best hospitality experiences in the world comes in Mombo Camp located on Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Private pool galore, the world’s most impressive wildlife viewing opportunities, golden bathtubs, huge rooms and excellent food; it doesn’t get much better than this. As it is one of Africa’s flagship safari lodges… There is again, a price tag to match! In recent years, prices have soared and now in peak season, for one night the per person price is $3,800 USD… If you want the life of luxury, have a good Botswana budget, but can’t justify that per night amount, you could look at the still exceptionally spoiling Vumbura Plains, Duba Plains or Zarafa which are all priced at $3,000 per person per night.
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Mombo - Moremi
I wanted to drop you a note and tell you what an absolutely fantastic trip I had to Mombo and Vumbura Plains. I walked away with 2900 photos and am, by no means, a serious photographer. Thank you again for all your wonderful suggestions. They really paid off for me. You can be certain this is not my last trip there.- A Luchechko
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Cost: $3,512
Mombo Trails - Moremi
We stayed at Mombo Trails which is the temporary luxury camp available while they rebuild Mombo Camp. My wife and I simply loved the camp and the whole Botswana safari experience. Frankly, I do not know how the new camp will greatly improve on the temporary camp. First and foremost, the density and diversity of animals in the Mombo concession is fantastic. Simply unbeatable game viewing. Our guide, Tebla, was the best. He is a walking talking naturalist with a wonderful and kind heart. Tebla, entertained and educated us for six hours a day. We learned so very much about the Bush and the animals and gained a new respect and love for them. We saw almost everything except for Rhinos. If you demand the best game sightseeing, go to Mombo. The accommodations were just fine, the food was over the top, and the hospitality from management and the large welcoming staff was wonderful. I highly recommend Mombo Camp. You will not be disappointed with any aspect of this experience.- A Walker
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Cost: $2,725
Moremi Crossing - Okavango Delta
Our View
This is a new style of camp to the delta. It has 16 rooms, not the usual 9 rooms, but what a great value accommodation to experience, at its best, what the delta is famous for: its waterways. The location is superb with excellent views and it is lovely place to relax and soak up the bush.
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Cost: $724
Motswiri - Okavango Delta
Our View
Motswiri is a small and personal camp, stylishly and comfortably rebuilt in 2010. It meets the latest, exacting environmental standards and is largely solar powered. They pride themselves on personal service, attention to detail and ability to tailor activities to suit individual ambitions and interests.The camp is located on the banks of the spectacular Selinda Spillway, an ancient watercourse linking the Okavango and Kwando-Linyanti floodplains in northern Botswana. The Selinda Reserve lies to the east of the Okavango Panhandle, and is a revered and exquisite wildlife area.
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Cost: $875
Muchenje Safari Lodge - Chobe
Muchenje: We were definitely spoilt here since we were the only people in the camp. The setting is quite spectacular with a fantastic view over the flood plain below and our banda was also set next to a tributary valley to the floodplain down with herds of wildebeest and other herbivores made their way down to the water in the morning. Apart from the luxary of having the camp to ourselves, we could not have asked for more when on our first morning game drive we had a sighting of a pack of wild dogs taking down a juvenile sable antelope at the bottom of the escarpment underneath the camp. We also very much enjoyed the boat safari and were lucky enough to see a pair of African Skimmers, including their bizarre feeding pattern using their lower mandible (which is longer than the top one) to skim food out of the water while they were in flight. And of course all these small details were set in bigger picture of ellies and hippos and crocs All in all this was a great introduction to the delta area and we were very well looked after - T Pozo
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Cost: $760
Ngoma Safari Lodge - Chobe
Our View
Ngoma Safari Lodge is pricey for Chobe National Park lodges given it’s not in a private concession, but don’t knock it just because of that: there are many things which make this luxurious opening an attractive option. Set in the quieter part of the park - in the Chobe Forest Reserve - it benefits from the incredible wildlife of the national park but without sharing sightings with loads of other tourists. It also has the added creature comforts of private plunge pools - but for half the price you would pay in the private concessions of the Okavango Delta.
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North Island Okavango - Okavango Delta
Our View
North Island Okavango is a truly plush new addition to the Okavango Delta. Crucially, while some safari companies can lose their sense of wilderness in favour of luxury, North Island has kept an authentic intrepid feel with its under canvas soundscapes and wooden aesthetic. Plus, the wildlife area is unmatched.
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Nxai Pan - Makgadikgadi Pans
Nxai Pan: A good place to start our trip. The tracks we could drive were limited, no off road driving here and we had to be back in camp before dark. Our guide was Tabo. The friendly tracker Obi took us on the little nature walk in the camp and told us many things about the Bushman culture. I felt they could do more with the cultural experience. - R Blom
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Cost: $593
Okavango Explorers Camp - Selinda
Our View
Okavango Explorers Camp is the epitome of old school safari magic. Its decor, with oak furnishings and Persian rugs, goes some of the way in convincing guests as such, but its quality isn’t confined to the interiors. With knowledgeable guides, a true explorer feel to the camp, and a brilliant density of wildlife in the Selinda Reserve, this camp is a real find.
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